Norman Darnell Baxter v. Albert G. Thomas, Warden, Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Center

KRAVITCH, Circuit Judge:

Petitioner, Norman Darnell Baxter, was convicted of the murder of Katherine June Moore and sentenced to death. He appeals from the district court’s order denying his motion for a writ of habeas corpus. For the reasons set forth below, we AFFIRM the district court’s denial of relief as to Baxter’s conviction. Because, however, we hold that Baxter’s counsel was ineffective at the sentencing phase of his trial, we REVERSE the district court’s denial of relief as to Baxter’s sentence.

I

On July 5, 1980, Katherine June Moore attended a cookout at her father and stepmother’s…